Level of health literacy and prevalence of risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases among the Kotelniki city district labor migrants of the Moscow region

Given the growing migration streams in the Russian Federation, it is necessary to develop approaches to the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases in migrant workers. Risk factors, low medical literacy, language and legislative barriers, and international experience in adapting health systems to new challenges must be considered. Objective. To assess the level of medical literacy in preventing chronic non-communicable diseases and their risk factors among migrant workers in Kotelniki, Moscow Region. Materials and methods. A survey was conducted from May to October 2024 as part of an outpatient medical consultation. The socio-demographic characteristics, level of medical literacy, and main risk factors (related to lifestyle and work) for developing common non-communicable diseases in 384 respondents were analyzed. Results. Work migrants have low medical literacy. A significant prevalence of non-communicable diseases and risk factors associated with the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents was found. Conclusion. The development of accessible and culturally adapted materials to improve medical literacy and specific screening programs can improve the quality of life, reduce the risk of non-communicable chronic diseases in migrant workers, and reduce the burden on the health care system.